Saying Goodbyes to 36 2018 Cardinals Players

Update: Thanks to sharp-eyed reader @C70 on Twitter, Tyler Lyons is no. 37 on the list. The minor league free agent has been added to the table in the appropriate section below.

Just timing when I flipped my books, Lyons declared free agency on 10/2, about a month before the other MLB and MiLB free agents. I agree he should be included, though. Is there something about his uniform number that has special allure to you? Seriously, thanks for the heads up.

With St. Louis Cardinals minor league camp almost open, it is time once again to focus on the promise of the new season. Before 2018 is officially forgotten, it seems appropriate to say goodbye one last time to a group of 36 players who have become ex-Cardinals since the close of the 2018 season. This is significantly higher than the 28 departures the winter before and closer to the 40 from two years ago.

The largest group to leave the organization is typically free agents, but this fall was an exception, with releases predominating. The vast majority of the 16 players cut loose were short-season pitchers, an area in which the Cardinals as an organization was weak in 2018.

Matt Adams (USA TODAY Sports)

St. Louis had 12 players become free agents following the 2018 season, same as the year before. Four were off the major league roster with the other eight minor league free agents, again identical to the prior winter. However, the difference this year is that three re-signed with the Cardinals for 2019, leaving a net of nine losses in this area.

The Cardinals lost four additional players via trade. Three were claimed off waivers as the club removed them from the 40-man roster. Two were lost in the Rule 5 draft and another two retired.

All 36 are outlined in the following.

Major league free agents (4-1)

Of the four major league free agents, three are pitchers.

Pitchers

Thr

Tm

Position Players

Pos

Tm

MLB FA (4-1)

A. Wainwright (resign)

RH

StL

Matt Adams

1B

StL

Bud Norris

RH

StL

Tyson Ross

RH

StL

Two pitchers, Bud Norris (Toronto) and Tyson Ross (Detroit), have new homes for 2019. Same for first baseman Matt Adams, returning to Washington. As many know, Adam Wainwright’s free agency was a necessary formality before he could sign a lower-dollar, incentive-laden deal to return to St. Louis for a 12th season.

Trades (4)

Pitchers

Thr

Tm

Position Players

Pos

Tm

MLB trade (3)

Luke Weaver

RH

StL

Carson Kelly

C

StL

Patrick Wisdom

3B

StL

Pitchers

Thr

Tm

Position Players

Pos

Tm

Minors trade (1)

none

Andy Young

2B

Spr

This area was rather quiet the winter after the Cardinals reworked the roster with trades. Of course, the one deal made was a huge one. 40-man roster pitcher Luke Weaver and catcher Carson Kelly moved to Arizona along with minor league second baseman Andy Young. St. Louis’ second trade was with Texas, as third baseman Patrick Wisdom headed south with Drew Robinson the newest Cardinal.

Major league waivers (3)

Pitchers

Thr

Tm

Position Players

Pos

Tm

MLB waivers (3)

Matt Bowman

RH

StL

Greg Garcia

2B

StL

Connor Greene

RH

Mem

Multiple other teams were interested in players for whom the Cardinals no longer had room. In the case of infielder Greg Garcia, he reached arbitration eligibility and his higher salary meant he could be replaced by a less-experienced, less-expensive infield reserve.

To free up 40-man roster space for players they wanted to protect from the Rule 5 draft, the Cardinals placed pitchers Matt Bowman, Conner Greene, Derian Gonzalez on outright waivers. Only Gonzalez cleared and remained with the organization. Bowman moved to the Reds with Greene a Royal.

Minor LeagueRule 5 Draft (2)

Pitchers

Thr

Tm

Position Players

Pos

Tm

Minors Rule 5 (2)

Chris Ellis

RH

Spr

none

Winston Nicacio

RH

SC

Though they were inactive in the major league phase, the Cardinals lost one pitcher for good in that segment of the draft in December, as Chris Ellis was selected by Texas and traded to Kansas City. He could still be returned. In the minor league phase of the Rule 5, pitcher Winston Nicacio was taken by the Pirates and will not be returned.

Minor league free agents (9-2)

With the Cardinals having released a number of older minor league free agents during the season, eight declared free agency for the upcoming season. As noted above, that is the same as the year before, with the difference being that two returned for 2019.

Pitchers

Thr

Tm

Position Players

Pos

Tm

Minors FA (9-2)

Edward Mujica

RH

Mem

Francisco Pena (resign)

C

Mem

Tommy Layne (resign)

LH

Mem

Steven Baron

C

Mem

Elniery Garcia

LH

Spr

Wilfredo Tovar

2B

Mem

Tyler Lyons

LH

Mem

Alex Mejia

SS

Mem

Victor Roache

OF

Spr

Four of them were former 40-man roster players, including reliever Edward Mujica, who was on his second turn with the organization. The others are catcher Francisco Peña, who later returned to the Cardinals as a free agent, and infielder Alex Mejia and catcher Steven Baron. The other returnee is lefty pitcher Tommy Layne, a local St. Louis product.

Of the eight, the only homegrown Cardinal was Mejia with the others being repeat free agents or trade acquisitions. Mejia was St. Louis’ fourth-round draft pick in 2012 and signed to play in Mexico for 2019.

Other Minor League departures (18)

A whopping 18 2018 Cardinals left the organization in a manner other than free agency, trade and Rule 5 during this past off-season. Specifically, 16 were released and two hung up their spikes for good.

Pitchers

Thr

Tm

Position Players

Pos

Tm

Minors release (16)

Colton Thomson

LH

PB

Joe Freiday

C

GCL

Robbie Gordon

RH

Peo

Sanel Rosendo

OF

JC

Will Changarotty

RH

SC

Brett Seeburger

LH

SC

Kevin Hamann

RH

SC

Jose Geronimo

RH

GCL

Edwar Ramirez

RH

GCL

Troy Montemayor

RH

SC

Juan Alvarez

RH

JC

Oneiver Diaz

RH

JC

Jacob Sylvester

RH

JC

Ty Cohen

RH

GCL

Chris Rivera

RH

GCL

Cory Malcom

RH

SC

Pitchers

Thr

Tm

Position Players

Pos

Tm

Minors retire (2)

Andrew Summerville

LH

Peo

none

Evan Guillory

RH

PB

12 of the 18 were short-season pitchers, with two more releases from the position player ranks. Both the retirees and the other two players cut loose played in Class-A ball in 2018.

The biggest surprise may be the retirement of Evan Guillory, who pitched very well in his full-season debut with Peoria last season before struggling at Palm Beach in the second half.

In conclusion

36 players have left the Cardinals organization since the end of last season – nine from the 40-man roster and 27 minor leaguers. 25 are pitchers, with the other 11 being position players.

In Part 2 of this annual series, I will take on a similar analysis of all the new Cardinals who have arrived for 2019.

For more

To track the status of the Cardinals’ 40-man roster as well as all players in the system by position and level, check out the Roster Matrix, always free and updated here at The Cardinal Nation.

Also included is every player transaction across the full organization all year long. In the off-season version of the Roster Matrix, you can also check out where the players from above who have re-signed for 2019 landed.

Join The Cardinal Nation for the most comprehensive coverage of the St. Louis Cardinals from the majors through the entire minor league system. Annual members may purchase the new 2019 Prospect Guide PDF for less than half price. In addition, out limited edition printed and bound Guides are going fast, so get yours today!